Tech bellwether Cisco posted better than expected quarterly results after Tuesday's market close. That's good news for more than just Cisco shareholders, because if Cisco is holding up well it means that companies are feeling comfortable enough to upgrade their networking equipment.

PC chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices said on Thursday it will cut its work force of nearly 12,000 by 15 percent, its second round of layoffs in less than a year as it struggles with a weak global economy and a consumer shift toward tablets.

Sometimes, companies that were once leaders fall hopelessly behind. They may struggle on for years, but their chances to engineer turnarounds have passed. 24/7 Wall St. has found nine of these companies -- names you know well, but that will never be great again.

Last month, 96 CEO changes were announced by U.S. based companies, reports job-services firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, among them the heads of Google and Advanced Micro Devices. The number is down 9% from December, but 8% higher than January 2010, when 89 CEOs left their corner offices behind.

Despite all the amazing gadgets launched at the Consumer Electronics Show -- the smart TVs, 3-D technology, larger touch screens, and tablet PCs -- the bigger news in Las Vegas this week may be about price cuts.